noured with the degree of doctor of philosophy. He had come to attend the divinity-lectures of the celebrated professor, and Mr. Livingston being informed of his character, obtained an introduction to him. The acquaintance now made with each other, soon ripened into a mutual, unreserved, and confidential friendship. It so happened, that Dr. D., the gentleman referred to, when he had been there a short time, was suddenly thrown into a state of great mental distress, through some painful intelligence he had received. The news reached him one evening of the death of a person, whom he had long loved as his own soul-a young clergyman, of extraordinary piety and talents; and upon learning the melancholy event which, it would seem, he had not expected, his thoughts became wholly absorbed with the bereavement he had sustained. He was deeply afflicted :-he retired to his bed with a dejected and sorrowful heart.

In the course of the same night, while ruminating upon the stroke, he was led to reflect that he also was doomed to die, and to look at death, and judgment, and eternity, as immediately before him. He saw what, perhaps, he had admitted a thousand times and more, but never before seriously pondered, that the hour was approaching, which would terminate his connexion with earth, and transmit

his spirit to the bar of God; and he saw that he was a sinner unprepared to meet his God. He knew that he was then out of Christ, and that if death should surprise him in that state, he would be lost for ever. So cogent and sharp was the conviction of this awful truth, that he forgot, in a manner, his friend's departure from life, in the concern he felt for his own salvation, and there was no sleep for him that night.

The next morning, Mr. Livingston paid him a visit, and being ignorant of the circumstances of the case, was much affected, upon entering his room, at his mournful appearance. The cause of his evident distress was immediately inquired, with an air of affectionate solicitude, that induced him to make a full disclosure of the whole matter; and, when he had related his exercises, he earnestly asked what he must do to be saved. Mr. Livingston modestly answered, "that he knew him to be well acquainted with the precious truths of the Gospel, and *** informed in what way sinners were accepted in the beloved Saviour ;" and feeling, probably, at the moment some little embarrassment, as he had been unprepared for such a meeting, he rose from his seat to leave him. But the Doctor would not permit him to go yet: "No, my dear friend," said he, "No, you must not leave me ;

sit down; you must descend more to particulars. You must tell me how a sinner must come to Jesus, and what are the peculiar exercises of that repentance and faith, which unites the soul to the Divine Redeemer. It is a fact," he added, "that I have studied the doctrines of the Gospel. I can explain and vindicate them, and you are convinced of my knowledge of the truth: it would be improper in me to deny it. But all this has been mere speculation; it has been all viewed by me as an abstract theory. I have been ignorant of the spirituality and extent of the Divine Law. I did not know who or what a sinner was, nor did I realize that I was the man. And now, since these convictions have commenced, I find myself, with all my acquired knowledge, ignorant and forlorn. I know not what I must do, or how to approach a Throne of Grace, any more than the most uninformed babe. I must be taught what it is to enter into covenant with God my Redeemer, and what that direct and personal faith is, by which the soul is united to Christ, and becomes interested in his imputed righteousness for justification and acceptance. "

Being thus importuned to remain, Mr. Livingston again took his seat, and attempted to exhibit to him the experience that is connected with genuine conversion, the nature of evangelical re

pentance, and of saving faith, and how a sinner, that is under the renewing influence of the Spirit of God, is brought to appropriate a precious Christ as his sacrifice and righteousness. The Saviour, in his ability and willingness to save, and the ample encouragements of the Gospel to the exercise of a full affiance in his merits and grace, were also presented with much clearness and feeling; and, under the Divine blessing, the Doctor was both enlightened and comforted by this plain, spiritual, and affectionate conversation. He found peace and joy in believing. At the completion of his studies, he entered the ministry; was called to the Church of * * * * *; and, to a good old ****; age, was esteemed an exemplary, learned, and useful minister of the Gospel.

The evidences of the Christian religion are so numerous and irrefragable, that no one who candidly considers them, can doubt its divine origin, or his own obligation to yield obedience to its precepts ; and hence it is, that a large majority of those who live in Christian lands, are, at least, professed Christians, though much divided in sentiment upon some doctrinal points, and differing in their modes of worship. But it is a fact that an historical faith is not a saving faith-nor is it always connected with the enjoyment of the life and power of godliness.

It is a fact that, in nearly every communion, there are those who have a faith which worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and overcometh the world, and whose religious experience, with all the diversity observable in their creeds and forms, involves a singular agreement of views and feelings. It is a fact that genuine believers, of every name, have a common spiritual discernment, and a common spiritual sensibility, and, it may be added, a common spiritual language, which mere speculative or nominal Christians have not, neither can have, as long as they are destitute of that faith, which is the effect of a supernatural influence. This may be denominated, in contradistinction to the other evidences of religion, the evidence of the Spirit; and it comes from the North, and South, and East, and West,-from the children of God of every denomination-of every clime, kindred, and tongue. The Holy Spirit preserves a uniformity in his saving operations-that is, his operations lead to an experimental knowledge, in all the saints, of the same great truths. A variety of circumstances may be employed to awaken them out of the sleep of sin; but the work begun and achieved in them by Divine grace, has the same characters, and the same fruits. They are all taught of God-not contrary things, but the same things that pertain to salvation. Hence it is that--whether they be learned